Consumers in the United States can now pre-order a genetically engineered plant for their home or garden that glows continuously. At a base cost of US$29.00, residents of the 48 contiguous states can get a petunia (Petunia hybrida) with flowers that look white during the day; but, in the dark, the plant glows a faint green. Biotechnology firm Light Bio in Sun Valley, Idaho, will begin shipping a batch of 50,000 firefly petunias in April.
Engineered petunia emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom.
Was going to order one because it’s only $29 but damn, the shipping was $24.
Yeah, shipping plants is a pain in the ass. I’ve also done snails.
Shipping a live thing has so many variables. Current climate on both ends? And in between? Need to include a heat pack or cooler pack? Shit’s going to die sometimes, gotta bake in refunds.
$24 is actually reasonable. Hell, I spend that to send computers around the US. $20-$30, here to anywhere.
But a TCO of $50+ is a bit much to satisfy my curiosity. Maybe they’ll come to local places soon.
I was too, until I read your thing
That’s gotta be around 95% shipping! I’m still a bit tempted and can almost justify it if I consider it as insurance to make sure such a rare plant arrives safely. It’s definitely misleading marketing to say it’s $29, though.
This is wild. It’s an annual but sometimes you can keep them alive longer. I wonder if they programmed a kill switch in so you can’t do vegetative propogation or sterilized it so you can’t produce seeds.
Hmmm… that’s an interesting concern. The article says the company doesn’t plan to crack down on those who might share with friends so it seems like they expect it to happen. I imagine it’s only a matter of time before someone someone is able to get seeds from the plant. Just imagine what could happen if they ended up in seedbombs.
Bioengeered? That’s a resounding yes.
There’s never been a commercially available plant variety that’s been genetically engineered to be sterile.
I wonder if they programmed a kill switch in so you can’t do vegetative propogation or sterilized it so you can’t produce seeds.
Probably not, stopping vegetative propagation would require mucking around with root genes so it’d be a huge mess to keep the roots working correctly. As for sexual reproduction, despite all the fearmongering about “the terminator gene” there’s never been a commercially available plant genetically engineered sterile. In fact the technology never made it out of the early testing/seeing if it actually worked phase.
They could however make the plant sterile through non-genetic engineering methods, like breeding a triploid. But that’d be kinda pointless since you could still just make cuttings.
Bro I don’t give a fuck. $50 and that shit is in my living room. I’m getting it.
I’ll be able to locate my cat’s barf easier.
The benefits are endless! The future is indeed bright.
My wife is nuts for glow in the dark stuff. Too bad we live in Canada.
You could try reaching out to the company and asking if they’re able to ship but my guess is it would have to be approved by customs in Canada.
Oh yeah, I don’t think moving plants across the border is for the faint of heart or shallowness of pocket.
I will be honest, I partially want to wait to see how it goes for others first, and then make my own purchase to see how it works for me.
That’s understandable. It’s always risky to be an early adopter. I really hope the majority of these survive and thrive 🤞
Agreed! That being said I am being peer pressured by my friend group to get it, since I am already known for being the plant person, lol.
I suppose plant peer pressure is the least threatening type lol. Your friends should pitch in for shipping if they want to see those glowing baddies so badly.
Cool! I bought my wife and I each one. I’ll probably try and propogate it into leca and grow it in my office year round under grow lights 🤞. The shipping hit hurts less for two plants
Oh no not again
Oh Luciferase, where have they put you now, my friend?
